A general strategy for geometric error identification of multi-axis machine tools based on point measurement

Geometric error component identification is needed to realize the geometric error compensation which can significantly enhance the accuracy of multi-axis machine tools. Laser tracker has been applied to geometric error identification of machine tools increasingly due to its high capability in 3D metrology. A general method, based on point measurement using a laser tracker is developed for identifying the geometric error components of multi-axis machine tools in this study. By using this method, all the component errors and location errors of each axis (including the linear axis and rotary axis) of the multi-axis machine tools can be measured. Three pre-described targets are fixed on the stage of the under-test axis which moves step by step. The coordinates of the three targets at every step are determined by a laser tracker based on the sequential multilateration method. The volumetric errors of these three target points at each step can be obtained by comparing the measured values of the target points’ coordinates with the ideal values. Then, nine equations can be established by inversely applying the geometric error model of the axis under test, which can explicitly describe the relationship between the geometric error components and volumetric error components, and then the component errors of this axis can be obtained by solving these equations. The location errors of the axis under test can be determined through the curve fitting. In brief, all the geometric error components of a single axis of multi-axis machine tools can be measured by the proposed method. The validity of the proposed method is verified through a series of experiments, and the experimental results indicate that the proposed method is capable of identifying all the geometric error components of multi-axis machine tools of arbitrary configuration.     

转台-摆头式五轴机床几何误差测量及辨识

为降低转动轴几何误差对转台-摆头式五轴机床精度的影响,提出了基于球杆仪的位置无关几何误差测量和辨识方法。基于多体系统理论及齐次坐标变换方法建立了转台-摆头式五轴机床位置无关几何误差模型,依据旋转轴不同运动状态下的几何误差影响因素建立基于圆轨迹的四种测量模式,并实现10项位置无关几何误差的辨识。利用所建立的几何误差模型进行数值模拟,确定转动轴的10项位置无关几何误差对测量轨迹的影响。最后,采用误差补偿的形式实验验证所提出的测量及辨识方法的有效性,将位置无关几何误差补偿前后的测量轨迹进行比较。误差补偿后10项位置无关几何误差的平均补偿率为70.4%,最大补偿率达到88.4%,实验结果表明所提出的建模和辨识方法可用于转台-摆头式五轴机床转动轴精度检测,同时可为机床精度评价及几何精度提升提供依据。     

Simultaneous geometric error identification of rotary axis and tool setting in an ultra-precision 5-axis machine tool using on-machine measurement

This paper presents a method to identify the position independent geometric errors of rotary axis and tool setting simultaneously using on-machine measurement. Reducing geometric errors of an ultra-precision five-axis machine tool is a key to improve machining accuracy. Five-axis machines are more complicated and less rigid than three axis machine tools, which leads to inevitable geometric errors of the rotary axis. Position deviation in the process of installing a tool on the rotary axis magnifies the machining error. Moreover, an ultra-precision machine tool, which is capable of machining part within sub-micrometer accuracy, is relatively more sensitive to the errors than a conventional machine tool. To improve machining performance, the error components must be identified and compensated. While previous approaches have only measured and identified the geometric errors on the rotary axis without considering errors induced in tool setting, this study identifies the geometric errors of the rotary axis and tool setting. The error components are calculated from a geometric error model. The model presents the error components in a function of tool position and angle of the rotary axis. An approach using on-machine measurement is proposed to measure the tool position in the range of 10 s nm. Simulation is conducted to check the sensitivity of the method to noise. The model is validated through experiments. Uncertainty analysis is also presented to validate the confidence of the error identification.     

Geometric error modeling and compensation for large-scale grinding machine tools with multi-axes

Synthesis modeling of a geometric error-based traditional method for large-scale grinding machine tools with six axes is too complicated to perform in a real-time compensator with a built-in position control system, and it is difficult to obtain all of the error elements corresponding to the model. This paper proposed a novel strategy in which a machine may be considered as translation axes and rotary axes, and geometric errors of the translation axes and rotary axis are modeled and the geometric error models of the machine are very simple for real-time error compensation. The volumetric errors of the translation axes are measured using spatial circular curve ball bar test, and every element of the rotary axis is also obtained by a series of considerate ball bar tests. According to the characteristics of a position controller used in the machine, a synthesis error compensation system based on the NUM numerical control system was developed. Error compensation experiments were carried out, and the results show that the accuracy of the machine is improved significantly.     

Three-point method for measuring the geometric error components of linear and rotary axes based on sequential multilateration

The linear and rotary axes are fundamental parts of multi-axis machine tools. The geometric error components of the axes must be measured for motion error compensation to improve the accuracy of the machine tools. In this paper, a simple method named the three-point method is proposed to measure the geometric error of the linear and rotary axes of the machine tools using a laser tracker. A sequential multilateration method, where uncertainty is verified through simulation, is applied to measure the 3D coordinates. Three non-collinear points fixed on the stage of each axis are selected. The coordinates of these points are simultaneously measured using a laser tracker to obtain their volumetric errors by comparing these coordinates with ideal values. Numerous equations can be established using the geometric error models of each axis. The geometric error components can be obtained by solving these equations. The validity of the proposed method is verified through a series of experiments. The results indicate that the proposed method can measure the geometric error of the axes to compensate for the errors in multi-axis machine tools.     

Position error reduction of tool center point in multi-tasking machine tools through compensating influence of geometric deviations identified by ball bar measurements

A method to compensate the influence of geometric deviations on tool center point (TCP) for a multi-tasking machine tool is proposed in this paper. Some methods to compensate geometric deviations of a rotary axis in five-axis machining centers have been proposed. However, due to the special topological structure of multi-tasking machine tools, the identification and compensation methods for geometric deviations are different from those of the five-axis machining centers, which have been seldom researched until now. In this paper, the main attention is paid to analyze the eccentricities of the trajectories measured by a ball bar under simultaneous three-axis motions and to reduce the influence of the identified geometric deviations on the position error of TCP by the compensation method. It is divided into two sequential subtasks. At first, the geometric deviations are identified by using the eccentricities of measured trajectories. A simple and practical measuring procedure is proposed to identify geometric deviations of rotary axes existing in a multi-tasking machine tool. For the second step, a method is proposed by modifying the original NC code according to the kinematic chain model of the targeted machine tool to compensate the influence of the existing geometric deviations on TCP. An experiment is conducted on a multi-tasking machine tool with a swivel tool spindle head in the horizontal position. The repeatability of the measured eccentricities based on three experimental results is also investigated to reduce the influence of measuring error on the identified results. As a result, the corresponding values of geometric deviations after the compensation are less than 2.2 arcseconds or 2.4 μm. It is concluded that the influence of geometric deviations on TCP is compensated effectively, and the position error of TCP is reduced significantly.     

Geometric characterisation and simulation of position independent geometric errors of five-axis machine tools using a double ball bar

A double ball bar (DBB) is extensively used to evaluate the geometric and dynamic performance of three-axis machine tools by means of the XY, YZ and XZ planar circular tests. Errors can be estimated by comparing them with known error profiles. However, such geometric interpretation of error plots of five-axis machine tools is limited. In this paper, a five-axis machine tool model is established with Homogeneous Transformation Matrices (HTMs), laying the foundation for characterising particular geometric shapes induced by various Position Independent Geometric Errors (PIGEs) of all five axes. A testing scheme is proposed to evaluate the target five-axis machine tool in two major steps: testing the rotary axes individually and testing the linear-rotary axes couples. In the first step, each rotary axis is tested with two substeps, with and without the extension bar on the DBB. The second step requires each linear and rotary axes combination to move simultaneously. Both approaches are performed with only one setup, thus simplifying the setup procedure and reduce the machine down time. To show the validity of the method, PIGEs for each axis are simulated with the given machine tool model. Several DBB trajectories are simulated using the machine tool model. Compared with the actual testing plots, the simulated DBB error plots are helpful to diagnose the PIGEs of linear and rotary axes based on their particular geometric shapes. The results suggest that the proposed method along with the given error characteristics can be used as a fast indication of a five-axis machine tool’s performance.     

五轴数控机床几何误差建模方法研究

五轴数控机床是实现工件复杂表面精密加工的重要设备,而机床本身精度是保证加工精度的重要前提。以一台大型五轴数控加工机床为研究对象,分析各项误差,应用多体系统运动学理论,建立移动轴与旋转轴的几何误差数学模型,推导出刀具相对工件坐标系的位置与姿态误差表达式,为误差补偿提供精确数学模型,提高机床加工精度。     

基于激光干涉仪的旋转轴误差快速检定方法

为了提升五轴数控机床各旋转轴精度,解决旋转轴几何误差难以测量的问题,提出了一种基于激光干涉仪的旋转轴几何精度快速测量方法。该方法针对AC双转台和BC摆头转台的结构特性,采用旋转轴与直线轴联动的测量技术,可以避免传统测量方法对旋转轴中心的依赖性,推导了测量中直线轴转角误差与直线度对旋转轴几何误差约束关系,在保证精度的同时减少了测量过程中的设备安装调试时间,实现了五轴机床旋转轴转角误差、重复转角误差以及反向间隙的快速测量和补偿。对实际五轴机床AC双转台几何精度进行检定,提高了旋转轴的几何精度,实验证明该测量方法具有很强的工程应用价值。     

Influence of position-dependent geometric errors of rotary axes on a machining test of cone frustum by five-axis machine tools

A machining test of cone frustum, described in NAS (National Aerospace Standard) 979, is widely accepted by machine tool builders to evaluate the machining performance of five-axis machine tools. This paper discusses the influence of various error motions of rotary axes on a five-axis machine tool on the machining geometric accuracy of cone frustum machined by this test. Position-independent geometric errors, or location errors, associated with rotary axes, such as the squareness error of a rotary axis and a linear axis, can be seen as the most fundamental errors in five-axis kinematics. More complex errors, such as the deformation caused by the gravity, the pure radial error motion of a rotary axis, the angular positioning error of a rotary axis, can be modeled as position-dependent geometric errors of a rotary axis. This paper first describes a kinematic model of a five-axis machine tool under position-independent and position-dependent geometric errors associated with rotary axes. The influence of each error on machining geometric accuracy of a cone frustum is simulated by using this model. From these simulations, we show that some critical errors associated with a rotary axis impose no or negligibly small effect on the machining error. An experimental case study is presented to demonstrate the application of R-test to measure the enlargement of a periodic radial error motion of C-axis with B-axis rotation, which is shown by present numerical simulations to be among potentially critical error factors for cone frustum machining test.     

Parametric modeling and estimation of geometric errors for a rotary axis using double ball-bar

In this study, the geometric errors of the rotary axis of machine tools are modeled parametrically and estimated using a double ball-bar. To estimate the geometric errors from the measured data, they are defined as position-dependent/position-independent geometric errors. The position-dependent and position-independent geometric errors are modeled as nth-order polynomials with C ¹-continuity and constants, respectively. Additionally, the set-up errors which are inevitable during the installation of the double ball-bar are modeled as constants to increase the accuracy of the estimation process. The measurement paths are designed to increase the sensitivity of the geometric errors in the measured data. The position of the balls constituting the double ball-bar is calculated in the reference coordinate system using the homogeneous transform matrices. The ball-bar equation is applied to determine the relation between the measured data and geometric errors. The linearized relations between them are derived by eliminating the higher-order error terms. The parameters of the modeled geometric errors and set-up errors are calculated using the least squares method. Finally, the geometric errors are estimated using the calculated parameters. The validity of the proposed method is tested through simulations and it is used to estimate the geometric errors of the rotary axis of five-axis machine tools.     

A methodology for systematic geometric error compensation in five-axis machine tools

To enhance the accuracy, an efficient methodology was developed and described for systematic geometric error correction and their compensation in five-axis machine tools. The methodology is capable of compensating the overall effect of all position-dependent and position-independent errors which contribute to volumetric workspace. It was implemented on a five-axis grinding machine for error compensation and for the check of its effectiveness. Error compensation algorithm was designed, and a routine was written in Matlab software. The developed technique and software are based on an error table which interprets the function of axis through cubic spline technique and synthesis modeling of a machine tool. Recursive compensation methodology was used to remove the machine errors from the actual tool path and inverse technique was implemented to find the corrected positions of prismatic and rotary joints. Moreover, it can convert the corrected tool paths into practical compensated NC codes. The generated, corrected and modified NC codes directly fed to the controller of a five-axis machine tool. Validation of the technique was preceded by repeated experimentation of measurement and through machining of typical standard workpieces with some additional specific features. Experimental results exhibit effective compensation and remarkable improvement in the parametric and volumetric-workspace accuracy of the five-axis machine tool.     

The detection of rotary axis of NC machine tool based on multi-station and time-sharing measurement

At present, the detection of rotary axis is a difficult problem in the errors measurement of NC machine tool. In the paper, a method with laser tracker on the basis of multi-station and time-sharing measurement principle is proposed, and this method can rapidly and accurately detect the rotary axis. Taking the turntable measurement for example, the motion of turntable is measured by laser tracker at different base stations. The redundant equations can be established based on the large amount of measured data concerning the distance or distance variation between measuring point and base station. The coordinates of each measuring point during turntable rotation can be accurately determined by solving the equations with least square method. Then according to the error model of rotary axis, the motion error equations of each measuring point can be established, and each error of turntable can be identified. The algorithm of multi-station and time-sharing measurement is derived, and the error separation algorithm is also deduced and proved feasible by simulations. Results of experiment show that a laser tracker completes the accuracy detection of the turntable of gear grinding machine within 3 h, and each error of the turntable are identified. The simulations and experiments have verified the feasibility and accuracy of this method, and the method can satisfy the rapid and accurate detecting requirements for rotary axis of multi-axis NC machine tool.     

机械制造业数控机床几何误差自动控制

为了降低数控机床几何误差,提升加工精度,提出机械制造业数控机床几何误差自动控制方法。通过激光跟踪仪辨识机械制造业数控机床的几何误差,采用快速定位补偿算法与圆弧插补补偿算法相结合的方法补偿数控机床几何误差。利用计算机辅助制造软件生成刀位文件,依据刀位文件生成数控机床加工程序,通过补偿控制器生成数控机床各轴运动的控制指令,数控机床伺服系统接收控制指令后,自动控制数控机床各轴运动,以达到数控机床几何误差自动控制的目的。实验结果表明,采用该方法自动控制数控机床几何误差后,方向与角度的几何误差分别低于0.03 mm与0.1°,实际应用效果较好。     

Applying bidirectional kinematics to assembly error analysis for five-axis machine tools with general orthogonal configuration

Since a five-axis machine tool has two more rotary axes and two more degrees of freedom than a three-axis machine tool, it can manufacture a complex surface more efficiently. However, there are more error terms due to the extra axes. Error sources for machine tools include structural error, dynamic error, and static error. The static error, which includes thermal and geometric errors, is the main source of machining inaccuracy in machine tools. Although a large number of studies have been made on geometric errors, the influence of individual error term on volumetric error is seldom discussed. This paper analyzes assembly error that belongs to the category of static error, and the analytic method can be applied to general orthogonal configurations. By adopting the machine tool form-shaping function, the effect of assembly errors on volumetric errors has been investigated. And the error terms that cannot be compensated by driving single control axis have been recognized and explored for general orthogonal configurations.     

基于数控系统底层通信的实时误差补偿及应用

为提高数控机床加工精度,设计开发基于CNC底层通信的实时误差补偿功能模块,该模块通过GSK-Link网络通信协议与CNC底层进行数据交互。实时补偿过程为：通过温度采集模块和数据通信模块实时采集机床温度及各坐标轴坐标,误差补偿器计算误差补偿值并将计算结果直接送往CNC实时误差补偿功能模块,以实现机床误差实时补偿。该补偿过程的最大优点是实时补偿器与CNC底层直接通信,而不是目前国际上惯用的先通过PLC再与CNC底层通信的方式,因此实时补偿的速度和效率更高,补偿效果更好。GSK 25i数控系统的实时补偿结果表明,实时误差补偿可有效提高机床精度,最大可提高91.7%。     

数控机床工作台误差综合补偿方法研究

针对由几何误差与热误差引起的数控机床工作台与主轴之间相对位置变动的问题,通过试验分析其在不同温度状态下的误差数据,得到机床工作台平面度误差随热变形保持不变的规律,并提出了一种数控机床工作台平面度误差与主轴热误差的综合补偿方法。该方法通过分别建立工作台平面度误差模型和热误差模型,并运用叠加原理建立综合误差补偿模型,对传统固定单位置点建模补偿方法的原理性缺陷进行了改进。结合机床关键部件的实时温度值和刀具位置的实时坐标值,计算出了全工作台各区域各温度阶段的误差补偿值,进而实现了全工作台主轴轴向综合误差的实时补偿。检验及分析结果表明,相比于传统固定单位置点热误差建模补偿方法,该方法所建模型残余标准差减小约7μm,精度提高比例达到50%;单次最大补偿残差减小约11μm,精度提高比例达到60%,大幅度提高了机床的加工精度。     

[误差建模及精度保证方法]几何误差贡献值影响下五轴数控机床运动轴误差灵敏度分析方法

针对现有误差元素灵敏度分析与后续误差补偿关联性不强的问题，建立运动轴几何误差贡献值模型并提出运动轴几何误差灵敏度分析方法，以获得本身几何误差对机床精度有很大影响的关键运动轴。结合指数积理论和坐标系微分运动理论建立基于误差敏感矩阵的运动轴几何误差贡献值模型，各运动轴几何误差贡献值相加得到机床综合误差模型；计算各运动轴误差权重分量和误差综合权重实现运动轴误差灵敏度分析，选择误差综合权重平均值最大的运动轴为机床关键运动轴，并对关键运动轴的误差补偿方法进行分析讨论。最后，在北京精雕集团的五轴加工中心上进行仿真实验验证。研究结果表明：所建立模型和所提出分析方法是有效的，且只补偿关键运动轴的几何误差贡献值能有效地提高五轴机床加工精度。     

一种新的机床位置误差灵敏度分析方法

本文提出一种新的机床位置误差灵敏度分析方法。 首先基于多体理论和齐次变换矩阵建立了五轴龙门机床位置误差 模型。 其次通过截断傅里叶技术来表征与位置有关的几何误差参数,每个误差参数对位置误差的灵敏度值可表示为其傅里叶 幅值平方。 然后归一化处理,关键的几何误差参数为第 2,3,8,15 和 26 项误差。 通过与传统的 Sobol 法对比,仿真结果表明两 种灵敏度分析方法辨识的关键几何误差相同且灵敏度值相近。 此外,本文提出的灵敏度分析计算效率优于传统 Sobol 法。 最 后为了验证关键几何误差的有效性,提出了一个关于机床关键几何误差的补偿实验。 实验结果表明,补偿关键几何误差后机床 的加工精度提升了 48% 。 因此,本文提出的机床位置误差灵敏度分析方法是可行的和有效的。     

Thermal error compensation of a 5-axis machine tool using indigenous temperature sensors and CNC integrated Python code validated with a machined test piece

Achieving high workpiece accuracy is the long-term goal of machine tool designers. There are many causes for workpiece inaccuracy, with thermal errors being the most common. Indirect compensation (using prediction models for thermal errors) is a promising strategy to reduce thermal errors without increasing machine tool costs. The modelling approach uses transfer functions to deal with this issue; it is an established dynamic method with a physical basis, and its modelling and calculation speed are suitable for real-time applications. This research presents compensation for the main internal and external heat sources affecting the 5-axis machine tool structure including spindle rotation, three linear axes movements, rotary C axis and time-varying environmental temperature influence, save for the cutting process. A mathematical model using transfer functions is implemented directly into the control system of a milling centre to compensate for thermal errors in real time using Python programming language. The inputs of the compensation algorithm are indigenous temperature sensors used primarily for diagnostic purposes in the machine. Therefore, no additional temperature sensors are necessary. This achieved a significant reduction in thermal errors in three machine directions X, Y and Z during verification testing lasting over 60 h. Moreover, a thermal test piece was machined to verify the industrial applicability of the introduced approach. The results of the transfer function model compared with the machine tool's multiple linear regression compensation model are discussed.